Personal cooling apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A portable lightweight cooling apparatus for cooling a human body is disclosed, having a channeled sheet which absorbs sweat and/or evaporative liquid, a layer of highly conductive fibers adjacent the channeled sheet; and, an air-moving device for moving air through the channeled sheet, wherein the layer of fibers redistributes heat uniformly across the object being cooled, while the air moving within the channeled sheet evaporates sweat and/or other evaporative liquid, absorbs evaporated moisture and the uniformly distributed heat generated by the human body, and discharges them into the environment. Also disclosed is a method for removing heat generated by the human body, comprising the steps of providing a garment to be placed in thermal communication with the body; placing a layer of highly conductive fibers within the garment adjacent the body for uniformly distributing the heat generated by the body; attaching an air-moving device in communication with the garment for forcing air into the garment; removably positioning an exchangeable heat sink in communication with the air-moving device for cooling the air prior to the air entering the garment; and, equipping the garment with a channeled sheet in communication with the air-moving device so that air can be directed into the channeled sheet and adjacent the layer of fibers to expell heat and moisture from the body by the air being directed out of the channeled sheet and into the environment. The cooling system may be configured to operate in both sealed and unsealed garments.

[0001] The U.S. Government has rights in this invention pursuant tocontract number DE-AC05-960R22464 between Lockheed Martin EnergyResearch Corporation and the Department of Energy.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a portable cooling devicegenerally used with body armor systems and which is designed to utilizethe body's natural cooling process of convection and the evaporation ofsweat and/or other evaporative liquid to provide cooling and comfort tothe person wearing the garment while being lightweight, thin, andflexible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Body armor systems, including vests worn by law enforcementofficers, use Kevlar® or similar fibers, which are coated in plastic, asa projectile-resistant shield. The plastic coating is necessary toassure the safe performance of the vest, but makes the garment hot anduncomfortable to wear. This, in turn, decreases the mobility and, thus,the efficiency of the officers who wear them and acts as a deterrent tousing the body armor and as a result, increases officer casualties.There have been several attempts to provide a more comfortableprotective garment. For example, Parrish et al (U.S. Pat. No.5,113,666), teach a cooling device that can be incorporated into aperson's apparel to permit the transfer of water vapor from the wearer'sskin. Parrish et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,668), a continuation-in-part ofU.S. Pat. No. 5,113,666, teach a sealed garment containing a workingfluid in an evaporation section of the garment, vaporization occurringby heat generated from the person wearing the garment. Parrish et al(U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,695), a divisional of U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,668,teach cooling devices such as vests, pads or patches used in garments,including space suits, sealed hazardous material suits, and/or vests.All of these embodiments comprise of a desiccant layer which is utilizedin the storage of the water vapor resulting from the evaporationprocess. In the present invention, however, the water vapor resultingfrom the evaporation process is discharged to the environment thusalleviating the requirement of storage and decreasing the weight andsize of the cooling apparatus.

[0004] Other examples may also be found in Scaringe et al (U.S. Pat. No.4,856,294), Szczesuil et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,164), Faghri (U.S. Pat.No. 5,269,369), Garner (U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,693), Koon et al (U.S. Pat.No. 5,898,570), Coulon et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,645), Buckley (U.S.Pat. No. 5,722,482), and Benson (U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,864), which arehereby incorporated by reference.

[0005] These cooling systems, however, remain heavy and uncomfortable tothe wearer. Therefore, there remains room in the art for a portable,lightweight, thin, and flexible garment which will provide morecomfortable thermal conditions under the armor vest (or similar vesttype garments) and would induce people to wear them as necessary, andthereby reduce the occurrence of preventable injuries and fatalities.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable,lightweight, thin, flexible, comfortable and adaptable cooling devicegenerally used in conjunction with a body armor protective garment.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide acooling device that uses the body's natural capabilities to cool itselfby conduction, convection, and/or evaporation as a part of the garment'scooling system.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acooling garment that will make body armor protective garments morelikely to be worn by those requiring such protection.

[0009] It is an even further object of the present invention to providea cooling system operable in both sealed and unsealed garments.

[0010] These and other objects are achieved by a portable lightweightcooling apparatus for cooling an object, comprising some combination ofa channeled sheet which absorbs sweat and/or other evaporative liquid,means for moving air through said channeled sheet, and a layer of highlyconductive fibers adjacent to said channeled sheet wherein the layer offibers uniformly distributes heat across the object being cooled, whilethe air moving within the channeled sheet evaporates sweat and/or otherevaporative liquid, absorbs and discharges the heat and moisturegenerated by the object into the environment.

[0011] These and other objects are also achieved by a method forremoving heat generated by the human body, comprising the steps ofproviding a garment to be placed in thermal communication with the body;potentially placing a layer of conductive fibers within the garmentadjacent the body for uniformly distributing the heat generated by thebody; removably attaching means for moving air in communication with thegarment for forcing air into the garment; potentially including anexchangeable heat sink in communication with the means for moving air inorder to precondition the air prior to the air entering the garment orbecoming in communication with the layer of highly conductive fibers totransfer heat from the body to the heat sink; and, potentially equippingthe garment with a channeled sheet in communication with the air-movingdevice such that air is directed into the channeled sheet adjacent thelayer of fibers so that heat and moisture are expelled from the body bythe air being directed out of the channeled sheet and into theenvironment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, theforegoing and other objects are achieved by an apparatus for cooling aliving body which apparatus comprises: a layer of thermally conductivematerial; and a heat sink operably connected to said thermallyconductive layer, the apparatus being configured to cause heat from theliving body to be conducted through the thermally conductive layer andto the heat sink when the living body is proximate the thermallyconductive layer.

[0013] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, theforegoing and other objects are achieved by an apparatus for cooling aliving body which comprises: a channeled sheet capable of absorbingevaporative liquid; and means for moving air into and through saidchanneled sheet and communicably connected thereto; said apparatusconfigured so that when the living body is proximate the channeled sheetthe channeled sheet may absorb evaporative liquid from the living bodyand air moving through said channeled sheet may vaporize the evaporativeliquid.

[0014] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, theforegoing and other objects are achieved by a method for removing heatgenerated by a body, comprising the steps of: providing an apparatusincluding a garment, a layer of thermally conductive material disposedwithin said garment, and a heat sink connected to said thermallyconductive material to permit conduction of heat therebetween; andplacing the thermally conductive material in contact with at least aportion of the body to cause the thermally conductive material toconduct heat from the body to the heat sink.

[0015] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, theforegoing and other objects are achieved by a method for removing heatgenerated by a body, comprising the steps of: providing an apparatuscomprising a garment, a channeled sheet for absorbing evaporative liquiddisposed within said garment, and a powered air moving device disposedfor moving air through channels within said channeled sheet; placing thechanneled sheet in contact with at least a portion of the body; andcausing the air-moving device to direct air through the channeled sheetand expel air therefrom whereby liquid from the body may be absorbed bythe channeled sheet and evaporated to cool the body and whereby heatfrom the body may be convectively removed by the moving air.

[0016] In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, theforegoing and other objects are achieved by an apparatus for cooling aliving body which comprises: a continuous layer of thermally conductivematerial wherein a first portion of the continuous layer is configuredto be proximate to the living body for absorbing heat from the body anda second portion of said layer is configured to be exposed to ambientair for discharging heat to the ambient air.

[0017] In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, theforegoing and other objects are achieved by a body armor protectivegarment for protecting and cooling a living body which comprises aprojectile-resisting shield and a continuous layer of thermallyconductive material wherein a first portion of the layer is configuredto be inside the shield proximate to the living body for absorbing heatfrom the body, and a second portion of said layer is configured to beoutside said shield and exposed to ambient air for discharging heat tothe ambient air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In the drawings,

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the garment, according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the garment, accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the cooling belt, according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view of the garment along line A-A asshown in FIG. 2, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0023]FIG. 4b is a detailed cross-sectional view of the garment,according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0024]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the thermal energy storage (TES)capsule in the cooling belt, according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present invention is a cooling system integrated into agarment that uses the body's natural capability to cool itself throughconvection and sweat evaporation. In a preferred embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 1-4 a and 5, the garment cooling system comprises a sheet ofhydrophillic material having a plurality of channels formed therein, anair moving device that introduces outside air into the plurality ofchannels, and a layer that interfaces between the human skin and thechanneled sheet to absorb perspiration. In an alternative embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 4b and 5, the garment cooling system comprises athermal energy storage (TES) capsule that is coupled to carbon fiberfabric. Although the cooling system will be described in terms of itsuse as part of a bullet proof vest, it is apparent that the coolingsystem could be used in fire-proof protective suits, chemical andbiological suits, diving suits, hospital blankets, tents and otherpersonal equipment where a means for cooling might be employed.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, a garment, generally referred to byreference number 10, having a cooling system according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention is formed in the shape of a vest 20connected to a belt 30. Although it is appreciated that a vest may beappropriate for certain applications, cooling system could easily beadapted for use in pants, shirts, skirts, hats and other like garments.In the vest configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, belt 30 has a pluralityof openings 32 (FIG. 3) formed therein that are placed in fluidcommunication with a plurality of channels 22 formed within vest 20. Anair moving device 40, such as a mini-fan, blower, impeller or likedevice, is carried by belt 30 so that air is circulated within pluralityof channels 22. Belt 30 and openings 32 therefore serve as a manifoldfor distributing air to channels. Each opening of plurality of openings32 places air from air moving means 40 in fluid communication withplurality of channels 22 within vest 20 to distribute the flow of aircreated by air moving device 40 throughout gament 10. Importantly, airmoving device 40 brings air from the outside environment into gament 10.Air flows close to the skin absorbing both heat and moisture and,thereby, cooling the human body in a way that takes advantage of thenatural process of perspiring. The metabolic heat generated by the bodyis carried out of channels 22 and is exhausted to the outsideenvironment.

[0027] Optionally, a cooling means 50, which is essentially a heat sink,as will be described in more detail below, is positioned between airmoving device 40 and channels 22 to condition the outside air prior toits entering channels 22. Cooling means 50 is used only for partialcooling of outside air in climates where outside air temperature isunacceptably high. Depending upon the particular climate in whichgarment is being used, cooling means 50 may not be required. In theevent use of cooling means is not desired, garment 10 may be designedsuch that carbon fiber wraps around to the outside of vest and theenvironment serves as the heat sink. In climates where humidity is high,cooling means 50 may serve as a dehumidifier, extracting moisture fromthe air during the cooling process via condensation on the cool walls ofcooling means 50 or via an absorbing material. Cooling means 50 is usedonly for partial cooling of outside air in climates where outside airtemperature is unacceptably high. Depending upon the particular climatein which garment is being used, cooling means 50 may not be required. Inthe event use of cooling means is not desired, garment 10 may bedesigned such that carbon fiber wraps around to the outside of vest andthe environment serves as the heat sink. In climates where humidity ishigh, cooling means 50 may serve as a dehumidifier, extracting moisturefrom the air during the cooling process via condensation on the coolwalls of cooling means 50 or via an absorbing material.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, belt 30 is capable of detachment fromvest 20 by releasing fastening means 24. Fastening means 24 may comprisea male-type connection or fitting, or other suitable fastening meanssuch as snaps, adhesives and the like, and is hollow to receive air fromopenings 32 and deliver air to channels 22. Cooling means 50, which ispreferably TES material, is placed in belt 30 at openings 32 so that itcan remove some heat from incoming air before it enters fastening means24 and channels 22. Cooling means 50 serves to lower the temperature ofincoming air by a few degrees to take up only part of the heat load. Itwill be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that airmoving means 40 and cooling means 50 could be incorporated into vest 20,rather than using a separate belt 30. Referring to FIG. 4A, vest 20 isformed from a sheet 26 having a plurality of channels 22, each of whichallows the flow of air through garment 10. A protective layer 80, suchas a layer of KEVLAR manmade fibers is worn over sheet 26. Channels 22are preferably formed in a manner that minimizes pressure drop. Sheet 26is preferably formed from a lightweight and flexible hydrophilicmaterials, such as porous plastics or felted foams, so that sweat, andother evaporative liquids are wicked throughout sheet 26. Sheet 26 maybe worn in contact with the skin of the wearer, or, alternatively, maybe worn over an undergarment, and the undergarment may be intentionallywetted prior to use or may become wetted by sweat from the user. Asherein used, wearing garment 10 “proximate to the body” of its userincludes wearing garment in direct contact with the skin or in contactwith any garment between the skin and sheet 26. Sheet 26 may beincorporated into a CoolMax® type garment for structural support ofchannels.

[0029] Optionally, sheet 26 may be further enhanced by introducingcarbon fiber “needles,” or other highly conductive material, into sheet26 during the molding process. The resulting 26 sheet would then bebetter adapted to wick the sweat, and/or other evaporative liquid, allthrough channels 22 as well as having a much-improved thermalconductivity so as to be able to redistribute the heat more uniformlythroughout vest 20. The combination of carbon fibers and moving air isanother important feature of the present invention because thecombination is so effective in removing heat from hot areas veryefficiently. To prolong the useful life, sheet 26 can also be enhancedby the addition of anti-microbial agents, such as those sold under thetrademark MICROBAN, incorporated into the material from which it ismade. Further, sheet 26 can be enhanced with the addition of phasechange material that could preclude the use of cooling means 50 in belt30.

[0030] An alternative embodiment of a garment 100 comprising a carbonfiber fabric 120 coupled to a TES material, and then covered with aprotective layer 130 such as a layer of KEVLAR manmade fibers. Thisalternative embodiment may be used for applications in which duty cyclesare less demanding and where weight is not as much of a factor. In thisinstance, cooling will depend on conduction and the TES capsule and noton air flow. To ensure adequate operation of garment 100, a transitioncoupling (not shown) between TES capsules and carbon fiber fabric isnecessarily provided. This coupling connects the flexible carbon fiberimpregnated fabric 120 to the rigid TES capsule and, thus, requires aflexible to semi-rigid to rigid transition. Although this may beachieved in many possible ways, it is also imperative that the thermalconductivity of this coupling or transition does not impair or impedethe conductivity of garment 100. Coupling could be an adhesive, having ahigh thermal conductivity, that secures TES capsules to carbon fiberfabric 120.

[0031] Preferably, air is conditioned prior to being introduced intoplurality of channels 22 using a TES capsule 60, which is bestillustrated in FIG. 5. TES capsule 60 is preferably formed from aluminumor other highly conductive, lightweight material and is preferablylocated within belt 30. TES capsule will 60 preferably contain a lowmelting temperature phase change material, for example, ice/water atzero degrees Celsius. The phase change material, however, may be anyknown TES type material which will meet the desired needs of theinvention and the conditions of use. TES capsule 60 may also havecooling fins 70 made of aluminum, aluminum alloy, or some other highlyconductive material for effective heat transfer and light weight. TEScapsule 60 will serve primarily as a heat sink to cool the incomingoutside air from its ambient temperature to a cooler but comfortabletemperature prior to entering channels 22.

[0032] The airflow from air moving device 65 may adjusted manually oradjusted using an automatic integrated control system 55 (FIG. 5).Control system 55 is in operational connection with a thermostat (notshown), which controls the air flow of air moving device depending uponthe desired temperature. Control system 55 is completely analogous to ahome thermostat control, which turns on fans in response to an increasein temperature, but may have additional capabilities as well. Forexample, in conjunction with the adjustably controlled flow rate, theexposed surface of a TES 60 capsule 60 can be altered to maintain theexit temperature from TES capsule 60. Air-moving device 65 may beoperated by lightweight rechargeable batteries, for example, lithium-ionbatteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal-hydride batteries, andthe like or conventional non-rechargeable batteries. Air moving device65 operates in conjunction with TES 60 because it reduces the amount ofTES material needed for cooling and results in a lighter weight garment10. Prior art systems dump all the heat into a heat sink, and musttherefore be sized for the maximum heat load, resulting in a much largerquantity of TES material than the present invention requires. Here, TEScapsule 60 is only used for part of the load, the remained being takencare of by air moving device 65.

[0033] The present invention, thus, provides a lightweight, thin,flexible, and comfortable cooling garment which is adaptable to thecircumstances of the user, and uses the body's natural capabilities tocool itself as a part of the garment's cooling system. The inventionprovides a cooling device for a protective garment which is operable inboth sealed and unsealed garments.

[0034] In use, garment may be worn by a user to provide additionalcooling. By manually operating air moving means 40 or using controllersystem to operate air moving means 40, air will be circulated throughchannels 22 close to the skin absorbing both heat and moisture, therebycooling the human body. The metabolic heat generated is carried out ofchannels 22 and is exhausted to the environment.

[0035] It will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the artthat the present invention is susceptible of broad utility andapplication. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present inventionother than those described, as well as many variations, modificationsand equivalent arrangements will be apparent from or reasonablysuggested by the present invention and foregoing description thereof,without departing from the substance or scope of the present inventionas defined by the following appended claims.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for cooling a living body comprising: a layerof thermally conductive material; and a heat sink operably connected tosaid thermally conductive layer, said apparatus configured to cause heatfrom the living body to be conducted through the thermally conductivematerial and to the heat sink when the living body is proximate thelayer of thermally conductive material.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 ,wherein said thermally conductive material comprises carbon fibers. 3.The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said heat sink comprises a thermalenergy storage device.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein saidthermal energy storage device comprises a thermal storage mediumcontained within an enclosure.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 , whereinsaid enclosure comprises a material selected from the group consistingof aluminum and aluminum alloys.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 , whereinsaid enclosure is thermally conductive and further comprises fins. 7.The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said thermal energy storage mediumcomprises water and said enclosure is configured to contain water inliquid phase, solid phase, and combinations thereof.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 1 , wherein said heat sink is removably connected.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a garment for supporting saidlayer of thermally conductive material proximate the living body. 10.The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an interface between saidthermally conductive material and said heat sink.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 10 , wherein said interface comprises a thermally conductiveflexible to semi-rigid to rigid transition coupling.
 12. An apparatusfor cooling a living body, comprising: a channeled sheet capable ofabsorbing evaporative liquid; and, a means for moving air into andthrough said channeled sheet and communicably connected thereto, whereinsaid apparatus is configured so that when the living body is proximatethe channeled sheet the channeled sheet may absorb evaporative liquidfrom the living body and air moving through said channeled sheet willaid in removing the evaporated liquid.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 ,wherein said channeled sheet comprises a plurality of tubular channels.14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said channeled sheet comprisesat least one material selected from the group consisting ofpolyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, and polyurethane.15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said channeled sheet isimpregnated with at least one material selected from the groupconsisting of carbon fiber needles and phase change materials.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 12 , wherein said channeled sheet has at least oneproperty selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic andanti-microbial.
 17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said means formoving air is selected from the group comprising a fan, blower,impeller, and natural convection.
 18. The apparatus of claim 12 ,wherein said means for moving air is manually controlled.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 12 , wherein said means for moving air comprises acontroller having at least one sensor selected from the group consistingof temperature sensor, relative humidity sensor, and wet-bulbtemperature sensor.
 20. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising agarment for supporting said channeled sheet proximate the living body.21. The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising an air conduitdisposed between said garment and said means for moving air.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 21 , wherein said air conduit comprises at least onetube.
 23. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an electric powersupply, said means for moving air connected to and driven by saidelectric power supply.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein saidelectrical power supply further comprises at least one battery selectedfrom the group consisting of lithium-ion battery, nickel-cadmiumbattery, nickel-metal-hydride battery, sealed lead acid battery, andalkaline battery.
 25. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising aheat sink disposed in communication with said means for moving air forpreconditioning the air propelled by said means for moving air.
 26. Theapparatus of claim 25 , wherein said heat sink comprises a thermalenergy storage device.
 27. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein saidthermal energy storage device comprises an energy storage mediumcontained within an enclosure.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27 , whereinsaid enclosure comprises a material selected from the group consistingof aluminum and aluminum alloys.
 29. The apparatus of claim 28 , whereinsaid enclosure is thermally conductive and further comprises fins. 30.The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein said thermal energy storage mediumcomprises water and said enclosure is configured to contain water inliquid phase, solid phase, and a combination thereof.
 31. The apparatusof claim 25 , wherein said heat sink is removably connected.
 32. Theapparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a means for dehumidifying theair moved through said channeled sheet communicably connected to saidmeans for moving air.
 33. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprisinga layer of thermally conductive material configured to be disposedbetween said channeled sheet and the living body to conduct heat acrossthe living body.
 34. The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein said layer ofthermally conductive material comprises carbon fibers.
 35. A method forremoving heat generated by a body, comprising the steps of: providing anapparatus comprising a garment, a layer of thermally conductive materialdisposed within said garment, and a heat sink connected to saidthermally conductive material to permit conduction of heat therebetween;and placing the thermally conductive material proximate at least aportion of the body to cause the thermally conductive material toconduct heat from the body to the heat sink.
 36. A method for removingheat generated by a body, comprising the steps of: providing anapparatus comprising a garment, a channeled sheet for absorbingevaporative liquid disposed within said garment, and a means for movingair through channels within said channeled sheet; placing the channeledsheet in contact with at least a portion of the body; and causing theair-moving device to direct air through the channeled sheet and expelair therefrom whereby liquid from the body may be absorbed by thechanneled sheet and evaporated to evaporatively cool the body and heatfrom the body is convectively removed by the moving air.
 37. The methodof claim 36 wherein the apparatus further comprises a heat sink disposedin communication with said air moving device for preconditioning the airmoving therethrough.
 38. The method of claim 36 wherein the apparatusfurther comprises a layer of conductive material which distributes heatacross the body and channel sheet disposed in surface contact betweensaid channeled sheet and at least a portion of the body.
 39. Anapparatus for cooling a living body, said apparatus comprising: acontinuous layer of thermally conductive material having a first portionand a second portion wherein said first portion of said layer isconfigured to be proximate the living body for absorbing heat from theliving body and said second portion of said layer is configured to beexposed to ambient air for discharging heat to the ambient air.
 40. Theapparatus as recited in claim 39 , wherein said layer of thermallyconductive material comprises carbon fibers.
 41. A body armor protectivegarment for protecting and cooling a living body, said garmentcomprising: a projectile-resisting shield; and a continuous layer ofthermally conductive material having a first portion that is configuredto be inside said projectile-resisting shield proximate the living bodyfor absorbing heat from the living body and a second portion of saidlayer that is configured to be outside said projectile-resisting shieldand exposed to ambient air for discharging heat to the ambient air. 42.A body armor protective garment for protecting and cooling a living bodycomprising: a projectile-resisting shield; and a first layer ofthermally conductive material configured to be inside saidprojectile-resisting shield proximate the living body for absorbing heatfrom the living body and a second layer of thermally conductive materialconfigured to be outside said projectile-resisting shield and exposed toambient air for discharging heat to the ambient air; and thermallyconductive connecting fibers, said thermally conductive connectingfibers passing through said projectile-resisting shield and beingthermally connected to said first layer and said second layer.
 43. Thebody armor protective garment as recited in claim 41 , wherein saidlayer of thermally conductive material comprises carbon fibers.
 44. Thebody armor protective garment as recited in claim 42 , wherein saidlayer of thermally conductive material comprises carbon fibers.